Thereupon they went home to the farm.
Thorfinn went up to Grettir and kissed him, and thanked him with many
fair words for the great heart which he had shown to him; "And I will
say to thee what few say to their friends, that I would thou shouldst
be in need of men, that then thou mightest know if I were to thee in
a man's stead or not; but for thy good deed I can never reward thee
unless thou comest to be in some troublous need; but as to thy abiding
with me, that shall ever stand open to thee when thou willest it; and
thou shalt be held the first of all my men."
Grettir bade him have much thank therefor. "And," quoth he, "this
should I have taken even if thou hadst made me proffer thereof
before."
Now Grettir sat there the winter over, and was in the closest
friendship with Thorfinn; and for this deed he was now well renowned
all over Norway, and there the most, where the bearserks had erst
wrought the greatest ill deeds.
This spring Thorfinn asked Grettir what he was about to busy himself
with: he said he would go north to Vogar while the fair was. Thorfinn
said there was ready for him money as much as he would. Grettir said
that he needed no more money at that time than faring-silver: this,
Thorfinn said, was full-well due to him, and thereupon went with him
to ship.
Now he gave him the short-sword, the good one, which Grettir bore as
long as he lived, and the choicest of choice things it was. Withal
Thorfinn bade Grettir come to him whenever he might need aid.
But Grettir went north to Vogar, and a many folk were there; many men
welcomed him there right heartily who had not seen him before, for the
sake of that great deed of prowess which he had done when he saw the
vikings; many high-born men prayed him to come and abide with them,
but he would fain go back to his friend Thorfinn. Now he took ship in
a bark that was owned of a man hight Thorkel, who dwelt in Salft in
Halogaland, and was a high-born man. But when Grettir came to Thorkel
he welcomed him right heartily, and bade Grettir abide with him that
winter, and laid many words thereto.
This offer Grettir took, and was with Thorkel that winter in great
joyance and fame.